Recognizing the sister-state relationship of West Virginia with the
Republic of China (Taiwan) on the occasion of its thirty-fourth anniversary.

Whereas, August 4, 2014, will mark the thirty-fourth
anniversary of a sister-state relationship between West Virginia
and Taiwan; and

Whereas, For the past thirty-three years, the sister-state
relationship with Taiwan has been strengthened through the efforts
of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office resulting
in better mutual understanding; and

Whereas, In the year 2014, the West Virginia Senate urges
support for a United States-Taiwan bilateral investment agreement
and strongly encourages Taiwan’s participation in the Trans-Pacific
Partnership as soon as possible; and

Whereas, The dedication of our partners from Taiwan to
achieving positive outcomes in investment, information,
communication technology services and other areas is a testament to
Taiwan’s economic opening and deepening ties with regional and
global partners; and

Whereas, The Republic of China (Taiwan), with a population of
twenty-three million, has endeavored to improve cross-Strait
relations since President Ma Ying-Jeou came to power in 2008, and
it is encouraging that eight rounds of talks have been held and
eighteen agreements have been signed between Taiwan and mainland
China since then; and

Whereas, The cross-Strait Economic Cooperation Framework
Agreement (ECFA), signed on June 29, 2010, can serve as an
effective platform for cross-Strait interactions and contribute to
normalization of trade and economic relations between Taiwan and
mainland China; and

Whereas, Taiwan’s absence from the international organizations
dealing with climate change like the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change has impeded Taiwan’s ability to
respond to natural disasters like Typhoon Morakot, which struck
Taiwan in the summer of 2009; and

Whereas, The Taoyuan International Airport is a key air
transport hub in the Asia-Pacific region, ranked the world’s
fifteenth largest by cargo volume in 2012,and four hundred sixteen
Americans traveled to Taiwan for business and leisure during 2012.
Consolidating aviation safety and regulation in Taiwan is also a
priority for Americans’ safety and best interests; given Taiwan’s
prominent role in regional air control and transport services like
meaningful participation in the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO), it would be beneficial for Taiwan to safeguard
the traveling of passengers from home and abroad; therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate:

That the Senate hereby recognizes the sister-state
relationship of West Virginia with the Republic of China (Taiwan)
on the occasion of its thirty-fourth anniversary; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Senate affirms its support for West
Virginia’s sister-state relationship with Taiwan; and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk is hereby directed to forward
a copy of this resolution to the appropriate representatives from
the Republic of China (Taiwan).